Sean Bean ascends to "Game of Thrones"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Sean Bean has nabbed the lead in “Game of Thrones,” HBO’s adaptation of the George R.R. Martin fantasy-book series.

Tom McCarthy (“The Visitor”) is directing.

The books revolves around a battle among seven kingdoms and between two ruling families for control of the Iron Throne, the possession that ensures survival through a 40-year winter to come.

Bean will play Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark, known for his sense of honor and justice, who becomes closest adviser to King Robert (Mark Addy).

Kit Harrington will play Jon Snow, Bean’s bastard son, and Harry Lloyd will play Viserys, a powerless ruler who seeks to marry off his sister to a powerful king. Jack Gleeson will play Joffrey, King Robert’s son.

Peter Dinklage, who starred for McCarthy in “The Station Agent,” also is in the cast for the production, which is in the pilot stage and begins shooting in October in Ireland.

“Thrones” marks the latest fantasy epic-style production for Bean. He recently wrapped shooting on “Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” an adaptation of Rick Riordan’s children’s book. Bean also has “Black Death,” a supernatural thriller set during England’s first bubonic plague, in postproduction.